How to Do a Drug or Alcohol Addiction Intervention

Doing it yourself will also reduce the family’s ability to learn addiction education, letter-writing strategies, boundaries, objection handling, and manipulations. We suggest consulting a professional interventionist who can help tailor an approach to maximize the chances of successful treatment. By approaching them with compassion and offering concrete solutions, you can encourage them to take the first step towards recovery. In this article, we’ll discuss the steps to stage an intervention, communication strategies to use, and resources for more help. Professional counseling can help them manage problems that contribute to substance abuse.

Family Systemic Model

• It is important that as you try to help your loved one, you also find a way to take care of yourself.
• Once you’ve rehearsed what you’ll say, the next step is to choose the meeting time and location.
• This contribution is often key, because uncertainty about which program to choose or what to look for in a program are common barriers that keep people from seeking treatment.
• Your loved one may feel attacked and become isolated or more opposed to treatment.

Try to keep your statement brief and as on-point as you can make it, to give the person as few openings as you can. Start by coordinating with your team and agreeing on a time and place. Ideally, the whole drug addiction team can meet before the intervention to go over notes and strategy and chat with the intervention specialist for some last-minute tips.

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Talk to their close family and friends to put together a small team of people your loved one is likely to listen to. Meet up before the intervention and draft a treatment plan to how to do an alcohol intervention present to the person. This can include details of local therapy, support groups, and rehab programs. For example, someone can drive them to and from treatment so they’ll be more likely to go. Once you’ve planned your intervention, set a time and place, and invite the person over for dinner or to hang out.

Steps Involved in Intervention Planning

In addition, they will be better equipped to help their loved ones as they go through the process of recovery and treatment. In the majority of interventions, it is extremely beneficial to enlist the aid of an intercession specialist. We specialize in compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to your needs. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or a loved one, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. If someone responds negatively to an intervention, don’t assume that the attempt was a failure.

Different Types of Interventions

It’s important to share specific alcohol addiction treatment options with the person during the actual intervention. Doing so lets them take immediate action without overthinking or changing their mind. An intervention is when loved ones confront someone with an addiction, urging them to get treatment. Many interventions are only unsuccessful, especially when many people ‘gang up’ on a person with addiction in ways that make them feel attacked or defensive. Below are some strategies for approaching a person with addiction in ways more likely to be helpful.

Instead, interventions focus on asking a loved one to enter treatment and convincing them it’s the right thing to do. It’s important to recognize that interventions should encourage or motivate a loved one with addiction issues to seek treatment. In simple terms, an alcohol or drug addiction intervention is an effort to encourage a loved one to enter treatment. It’s a compassionate and well-thought-out approach to encourage your loved one to seek the support they need. A professional interventionist and the staff should seek to provide insights and solutions on how to do an intervention while promoting self-awareness among family members.

If you call the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation to request an intervention, an addiction specialist will help you think carefully about whether the process is right for your family. The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation does not have interventionists on staff, but we can provide you with information and contacts for professional intervention services. An intervention for alcohol or drug addiction should stress love and concern, McMahon adds. “I hear so much of the latter—of people being beat up in the intervention,” she said. “If the person had any other illness, there’s no way we would do that.”

• Sometimes, however, the role of the family member or loved one is to help mediate this conversation or even to request its arrangement.
• At this point you need to plan the logistics of the intervention, such as where and when it should be, and how you expect to get your addicted loved one to attend.
• This professional will structure the planning process, guide the intervention team, and lead the overall event.
• Several types of treatment programs for alcohol use disorders (AUD) are available.

Inpatient treatment is often considered the most involved option, including a residential stay at the treatment facility. While not an exhaustive list, there are some signs to look for if you suspect your loved one has a drug use issue. Contact us today to find out which program might be right for you, or to begin the process of arranging for treatment. Seth brings many years of professional experience working the front lines of addiction in both the government and privatized sectors.

How To Stage a Drug (Alcohol) Intervention for a Loved One

By now, the family should be able to handle situations that previously sent them into a tailspin instinctively. The family and the substance user’s support network should be in place. The goal is to engage the family after the intervention to develop a relationship and set appointments for ongoing support. Families start working with a counselor or family recovery specialist. It is highly recommended that a professional is brought in to assist the family.

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When guided by a professional, the intervention has a formal structure, ensuring the conversation stays productive and compassionate. However, a well-planned family-led intervention can also be incredibly impactful as it shows the person that those they trust and care about the most are worried about them. Common treatment options for alcohol misuse include attending a 12-step or other support group, participating in behavioral therapy, or going to an in-patient or out-patient rehab facility. A trained professional or healthcare provider can help us determine which treatment option is best for our loved one.